The nouveau riche, especially in the Mekong Delta, prefers ‘nouveau’ forms of entertainment befitting their newly-acquired status, such as taking a nude bath on a desert beach with local call girls whom they call ‘ecological girls’ or ‘clean vegetables.’
These are mostly young, good-looking women who are so defined to differentiate them from professional prostitutes – "polluted” females considered unsafe for men on the lookout for pleasures. These girls may have a steady job or are unemployed, single or married, but all are willing to accompany rich men during their fun-seeking trips for a handsome payment.

The temptation of earning big money for a day of fun and entertainment with rich men have turned many local girls away from conceptions of ‘virtuous’ women in this conservative Vietnam. Though not prostitutes, they agree to engage in drinking, singing and nude bath and other entertainment at night in return for VND1 million (US$50) -- more than half of their monthly factory salary.

Going into hotels with the men is not unthinkable for these girls mainly in the age group of 16-22, who measure their self-worth in money.

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For normal people, passing a university admission exam is a big challenge. For Tran Ai Van, a 12th-grader at Gia Dinh High School in Ho Chi Minh City, the challenge is even greater, as she can only write with her mouth.

But the tough girl, who can hardly move her legs or hands as a result of muscle atrophy, has never stopped striving for a place in college.
A dedicated mother

Standing by Van for the last 18 years, Tran Thi Thanh Huong, her mother, has done many different jobs to earn money to support Van’s education.

Huong, 37, once worked as a hotel waitress and an interpreter before renting a house near her daughter’s school to sell milky tea just to earn a meager living for both of them.

She is now unemployed and is thinking of becoming a taxi driver to back Van’s college dream.

"Sometimes I feel so exhausted that I want to take my own life, but the thought that nobody would then care for Van has given me more motivation and energy to continue trying,” Huong said.

Van has maintained an impressive academic performance since elementary school even though she has been confined to a wheelchair the whole time. ... Xem thêm

A downpour yesterday afternoon caused serious flooding at the Go Dua Crossroad in Ho Chi Minh City’s Thu Duc District, affecting about 50 households there, local authorities reported.

The flood water measured more than 1 meter in depth at some places, and about 15 of these households were moved to safe places.

The flooding also caused a great deal of motorbikes to break down in the area, which is located in Tam Binh and Binh Chieu Wards.

The fire police of District 9 sent several fire engines and 10 firefighters to the scene to pump floodwater out of the area.

About 30 police officers, militiamen (lực lượng dân quân), and workers of the HCMC Urban Water Drainage Co Ltd were mobilized (huy động ) to use pumps, water-sucking trucks and sandbags to prevent floodwater from entering the area from the Ba Bot canal.

While explaining the cause of the flooding, Pham Hoai Anh, chairman of the Binh Chieu Ward People’s Committee, said, "The canal section that runs through the area is being upgraded and could not drain the huge amount of water caused by the heavy rai ... Xem thêm